Punjab to amend law on fertilisers, pesticides

LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to amend the Fertilizer and Pesticide Act.

The decision was taken in a meeting, co-chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and PMLN Quaid Nawaz Sharif, here on Monday. The meeting discussed in detail the challenges facing the agriculture sector in Punjab.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif told the meeting the lack of quality seeds even after passage of four decades, was a matter of grave concern. He said effective steps should be taken to control wastage of 37 million acre feet (MAF) of water in Punjab and emphasised the need to use modern methods of irrigation for the purpose. Nawaz Sharif also ordered to formulate simple eligibility criteria for farmers to avail loans.

The agriculture secretary, in his briefing on various projects under way for development of agriculture in Punjab, stated that 1.7MAF water could be saved by paving 7,300 watercourses (khals) in Punjab.

A proposal to return rainwater to the ground by reverse pumping to improve groundwater levels was also reviewed in the meeting. Moreover, necessary measures to increase the rate of farm mechanisation from 35 to 60 per cent in Punjab were also discussed. It was decided in the meeting that Rs150 billion loan would be given to farmers for Rabi and Kharif crops. The CM said arrangements should be made for swift disbursal of loans to farmers after they apply for it. She added, “The Department of Agriculture should devise a fool-proof system of monitoring and feedback of the loan scheme.”

She also gave in principle approval of a pilot project for recruitment of agriculture officers and field assistants to fill the vacant posts. She ordered to ensure adherence to merit in the recruitment process. The CM also gave approval to establish research endowment fund worth Rs500 million for Ayub Research Centre. It was also decided to ensure coordination among sub-institutions of Agriculture Department for research, better performance and good governance. Separately, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz expressed deep grief over the murder of Head Constable Ghazanfar in Shahdara Town. She offered condolences and showed sympathies with the bereaved family. She ordered for early arrest of the killer, and sought a report from IG Police in this regard.

Also, CM Maryam Nawaz praised the security forces for arresting all those involved in Shangla attack on Chinese nationals. She added, “It is inevitable to bring terrorists and their facilitators to justice.” She said, “Pakistani nation is united in its resolve to eradicate terrorism.”